Escalating customer demands mean that warehouse operations have great prospects for growth. However, this opportunity also comes with pressure on operations to secure equipment that can help increase the efficiency of their storage, picking, and delivery processes.
In addition, warehouses in some areas are facing persistent labour challenges, threatening productivity and risking safety incidents. Hiring and retaining skilled labour is a major challenge for supply chains, especially when same-day delivery is also becoming an expectation. Speed and agility are a priority, but for many warehouses, so is keeping costs down amid inflation.
One technology that can help tackle these challenges in daily operations is forklift telemetry (also called forklift telematics), such as Yale Vision.
How can forklift telemetry help warehouses?
Depending on business goals and operational challenges, there are several different ways that forklift telemetry data can help warehouse managers to adjust their operations.
For example, if impacts are found to be more common in certain areas, managers can use this telematics data to rearrange their facility’s layout and reduce the risk of costly impacts in the problem area.
However, if the data shows that a particular operator is prone to impacts, warehouse managers can arrange for additional training that reinforces proper operating behaviour and reduces the likelihood of future impacts.
In addition, as operating costs rise, lift truck utilisation data can help businesses to determine if their fleet is the right size and structured with the appropriate mix of materials handling equipment. In cases where it’s determined that the fleet is too large, operations can structure their fleet more efficiently going forward and protect their bottom line.
Do forklift telemetry systems integrate with other warehouse or lift truck technologies?
One example of forklift telemetry systems working together with other technologies is the Yale Vision impact camera. This is a telemetry accessory that automatically captures and saves high-definition video footage of the events three minutes before and after an impact is detected by Yale Vision telematics. The solution provides warehouse managers with visibility they can use to help improve safety, increase efficiency, and reduce costs within their operation. Even in harsh- and low-light environments, the camera can help warehouses to validate impacts and identify product damage and inventory shrinkage issues caused by those impacts.
What are the latest advancements in forklift telematics?
Recently, the Wireless Monitoring tier of the Yale Vision solution became a standard feature on a number of key warehouse trucks and forklift trucks, including order pickers, reach trucks and VNA forklifts. With this change, more operations will have the ability to better understand their total cost of fleet operations by tracking their operation’s lift truck utilisation, impacts and location, as well as help protect against costly downtime by tracking and scheduling preventative maintenance.
What can you do with the data from a forklift telematics system?
To utilise the data generated by lift truck telemetry solutions, operations must be able to easily access, view, and analyse that data. The Yale Vision portal makes that possible by presenting it in a series of easy-to-use dashboards that provides users with complete visibility from any internet-enabled device and allows warehouses to easily access the data that’s most important to them. A smartphone app is also available to provide users with insights into their fleet, including automatic impact alerts and pre-shift checklist notifications. At the solution’s highest tier, users can also use the app to control operator access, trigger shutdown countdowns, and view the speeds of active lift trucks.
Additionally, Yale Vision can provide actionable insights without further data sortation from the customer. This removes the guesswork from operations who may not be used to utilising such data. With its ability to monitor and provide data on equipment diagnostics, the solution can recognise when potential issues may arise and automatically notify users that maintenance is required on that truck.
What should warehouses consider before investing in forklift telematics or telemetry solutions?
When considering telemetry, think about the business goals that have led you to the point of seeking a solution. Are there specific problem areas you’re looking to solve? Are you unsure of how your fleet and your operators are performing? Are you looking to make sure your lift truck fleet is properly structured to support your needs?
Having an idea of what telemetry should help address is key. Examples of key areas could be:
- Regulatory compliance: Replace paper checklists for forklift pre-use checks with an electronic alternative.
- Operator monitoring: Match lift truck data reports with operator data to gauge performance and automate reporting.
- Preventative maintenance: Schedule maintenance based on real-time data, rather than predetermined guidelines. This can help to create a leaner, more efficient operation with minimal unplanned downtime.
- Equipment use: Automatically track lift truck utilisation across a facility’s different departments to determine appropriate materials handling fleet needs.
Goals like these can help operations find the best-fit telemetry option to meet their needs. One that helps them avoid paying for more than necessary or for a solution that does not provide the functionality required.
To learn more about Yale Vision telemetry, speak to a local, independent Yale dealer.
*Based on internal measurements between the two mast channels compared to the Linde E3.0, TCM/CAT/Mitsubishi FHB25 and Toyota 9FMB25T. Measurements taken in March 2023.
